Most people agree that giving is better than receiving. Make giving AND receiving a little sweeter this year by giving a gift that gives back to a nonprofit organization. The Nonprofit Leadership Center’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide highlights gifts for everyone on your list, with some or all of the proceeds benefiting nonprofits.
Statement Shirts for Strong Women
The EmpowHERment Community Center is a nonprofit that works to empower all women by fostering the skills and resources needed to obtain self-sufficiency in finances, mental/emotional wellness and relationships. For the brave and bold women in your life (and those who may need a little reminder of their greatness), these EmpowHERment tees are sure to inspire. Additional styles and colors are available in their online shop. Shirts vary from $15 to $30.
Tops to Support Military Veterans
The Military Warriors Support Foundation is a nonprofit that helps facilitate a smooth and successful transition for our nation’s combat-wounded veterans and Gold Star families. Their programs focus on housing and homeownership, recreational activities, transportation assistance and leadership development. This holiday, you can honor a veteran in your life with apparel that supports them, from T-shirts to hoodies and more. Many colors and sizes are available, and prices range from $21 to $35.
Clothes That Care
NAMI Pasco is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness that provides free support, advocacy, outreach and education to those with mental health conditions and their loved ones. As mental health conditions are increasing, NAMI is selling apparel to remind people they aren’t alone. Check out all their inspirational shirts, caps, bags and even pet clothes with positive mental health messages. Prices vary from $14.99 to $29.99.
The Gift of Sight
Lighthouse of Pinellas is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the independence and quality of life for individuals in Pinellas County who are blind or visually impaired. These custom Braille bracelets are handmade by the teens in their Teen Transition program. Choose your strap color, length and inspirational word, or customize your own word. All proceeds directly benefit the Teen Transition program. Prices range from $15-$20 plus tax.
Sustainable Styles That Empower Refugees
The Refugee & Migrant Women’s Initiative, Inc. (RAMWI) is a nonprofit that empowers, engages and supports refugee and migrant women as they resettle in the Tampa Bay area. Their programs enhance women’s lives by providing opportunities to heal, build new connections, and develop skills that can foster self-sustainable economic opportunities.
RAMWI offers tote bags, table runners and one-of-a-kind jewelry created from up-cycled silk neckties, all handmade by women who are refugees resettling in the Tampa Bay area. Prices range from $29 to $65.
Bracelets to Help Rebuild Lives
Selah Freedom is a nonprofit organization working to end sex trafficking and bring freedom to the exploited through awareness, prevention, outreach and residential programs. Selah means to pause, rest and reflect in Hebrew, exactly what the organization gives survivors through its sex trafficking outreach program. Their Freedom Wrap Bracelet benefits survivors in this program by providing food, hygiene products, new clothes (most survivors come into the program with just the clothes on their backs) and much more. 87% of survivor graduates of Selah Freedom’s Residential and Outreach Programs do not return to “the life.”
Bracelets are $20 each.
Holiday Greetings That Give Back
The MacDonald Training Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to continuously improving the quality of vocational, employment and residential services for individuals with disabilities in the Tampa Bay area so they can lead a life they choose.
Celebrate the season with whimsical and inspirational holiday greeting cards designed by MacDonald Training Center artists. Each pack of 10 cards is $10 and features one original design with a warm holiday greeting inside. From angels to flamingos there are cards for Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanzaa.
Firefighter Calendar for Lung Health
The American Lung Association is honoring local firefighters who are dedicated to creating a world free of lung disease in their 2022 calendar. These first-responders are featured alongside fire-safety tips, information on how fires affect our lung health and more. Honor the heroes who protect us from lethal smoke and step up to the cause every year to support lung health. Calendars are $20, and sales support the American Lung Association.
Candles and Gifts from Seventh Avenue Apothecary to Benefit A Kid’s Place
Custom candles made locally by Seventh Avenue Apothecary exclusively for A Kid’s Place give hope to foster children. They were created with the help of children and volunteers and come in two distinct scents: “Hope,” a blend of White Tea + Fig and Green Clover + Aloe and “Wish,” a blend of Chai Latte + Christmas Tree.
A Kid’s Place provides a safe, loving and nurturing home for foster children from birth to age 18 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. Purchases help brothers and sisters stay together during their time in care.
A variety of candle sizes and gift baskets are available, ranging from $11 to $55.
Remembrance Beads
Susie Q’s Kids is a nonprofit committed to improving the lives of children and young adults in hospitals, foster care, shelters and those who are grieving with comfort bags to meet their basic needs, comfort needs and to provide inspirational support.
The holidays can be a particularly hard time without loved ones we’ve lost. These Remembrance Beads are a beautiful way to honor someone who has lost a loved one. The beads and charm can be used as story starters to reflect a different story or experience about that person. Wear it on your bag, belt, purse or backpack. When others notice, your recipient can tell them about its importance and share a story of a loved one reflected by one of the beads. You will receive the Remembrance Beads when you make a $30 donation to Susie Q’s Kids, and your contribution will also support the organization’s ability to provide comfort bags to kids in need.
Swag That Sparks Potential for Kids
The Spark Initiative is a nonprofit that works to cultivate human potential and resiliency through education, mentoring and coaching centered on an understanding of the mind that SPARKs innate mental health. SPARK Speaks to the Potential, Ability, and Resilience inside every Kid. Proceeds from their Swag Bag ($30) and will fund a child in the community who needs mentoring and mental health support. The SPARK Mentoring Program is available at no cost to anyone under the age of 18.
Each bag consists of:
- 1 Find Your SPARK White T-shirt
- 1 SPARK Grey Jacket
- 1 Curious the Dragonfly – Search for Good Feelings Children’s Book
- 1 Curious the Dragonfly – Search for Friendship Children’s Book
- 25 Curious Bookmarks
- 5 Find Your SPARK Bracelets
- 2 Squishy Lightbulbs (stress balls)
- 8 Find Your SPARK Pencils
To access and purchase this holiday swag bag, use the password SPARK when prompted.
Conversation Cards
Appropriate for kids of all ages, Conversation Cards feature thought-provoking questions and discussion prompts, as well as emojis to support the development of emotional vocabulary. They’re an effective tool to encourage deeper conversations between parents and children, teachers and students, coworkers, mentors and mentees and others. Card decks are $20 each or $15 when you purchase six or more decks.
Proceeds from the cards benefit Frameworks and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Frameworks empowers educators and other youth services professionals with training, coaching and research-based resources to equip students with social and emotional skills. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay works to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth so every young person can achieve their full potential.
Share an Experience That Supports the Arts
Is there any better gift we can give than time together? This holiday season, give someone special in your life an experience you can share while supporting a local theatre, museum or arts organization. The arts were hit particularly hard by COVID-19, seeing the largest declines in giving across the charitable sector. Support an important cause and your community by planning an outing or experience for a loved one at your favorite local venue. In our hometown where the Nonprofit Leadership Center is located, gift cards and experiences are available from nonprofits like the Academy of Ballet Arts (adult classes), Dunedin Fine Art Center (art classes), freeFall Theatre Company, Tampa Theatre, The Master Chorale, and more.
Search for theatres, museums and other art venues in your local area and enjoy some time well spent.